10 years of sharing your life with Facebook

Take a look at the evolution of Facebook’s profile page and news feed over the past decade.

February 4, 2014 7:00 AM

Photo: Facebook

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As Facebook enters its second decade, it's time to take a look back at its first.

When Mark Zuckerberg and friends launched it, the website was "the facebook." An unidentified male watched your activity — most of which consisted of making minor updates — from the top-left corner of the page.

Early adopters will recognize the mini-feed, lists of personal information, and blue bars that used to separate each part of the page. They'll remember when the news feed was born in 2006, or when the “like” button appeared in 2009. (There’s still no way to "dislike.") The profile page and news feed have evolved to include larger photos, more messaging options, and advertisements. Facebook's user-base has grown to include much more than just the college students it originally targeted.

Take a look at that evolution in the above screenshots, starting with a group page from 2004. The design was boxier back then, with blue headings for each section. Facebook reached 1 million users in December 2004.

This is the last time you'll see Facebook referred to as... Photo-5820365.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2005 profile

The profile picture permanently moved to the top-left corner in 2005. This version of the profile page emphasized users' personal information, with lists of favorite music, TV shows, movies, and quotes appearing alongside political views, contact information, and interests.

The profile picture permanently moved to the top-left corner in 2005. This version of the profile page emphasized users' personal information, with lists of favorite music, TV shows, movies, and quotes ... more

Photo: Facebook

The profile picture permanently moved to the top-left corner in... Photo-5820364.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2006 profile

Here we see an expanded version of the mini-feed, which offered updates on a user's most recent Facebook activity. That type of information was compiled in a news feed homepage launched in September 2006. Facebook for mobile also launched that year, while the website opened up registration for anyone.

Here we see an expanded version of the mini-feed, which offered updates on a user's most recent Facebook activity. That type of information was compiled in a news feed homepage launched in September 2006. ... more

Photo: Facebook

Here we see an expanded version of the mini-feed, which offered... Photo-5820363.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2007 news feed

The numerous "My" options in the left rail have been replaced by a cleaner menu with icons. Privacy and account settings moved to the top-right corner, where they remain today. The mystery Facebook-man has disappeared from the top-left corner.

The numerous "My" options in the left rail have been replaced by a cleaner menu with icons. Privacy and account settings moved to the top-right corner, where they remain today. The mystery Facebook-man has ... more

Photo: Facebook

The numerous "My" options in the left rail have been... Photo-5820530.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2007 profile

The profile of this era emphasized to the user status, while restricting them to "is" statements. For example, "Amy Weller is excited about the new redesign." Basic information became clickable. Recent activity floated to the top. Facebook pages and self-service ads launched that year.

The profile of this era emphasized to the user status, while restricting them to "is" statements. For example, "Amy Weller is excited about the new redesign." Basic information became clickable. Recent activity ... more

Photo: Facebook

The profile of this era emphasized to the user status, while... Photo-5820362.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2008 news feed

Facebook users could filter their information with a custom feed. This was also the year Facebook chat became available -- see the bottom-right corner.

Facebook users could filter their information with a custom feed.... Photo-5820522.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2008 profile

This page feels familiar, with the "wall" serving the function of a late mini-feed or early timeline. Tabs made it easy to navigate to info and photos. This version of the profile page gave users three different fields to express a status, which could be confusing.

This page feels familiar, with the "wall" serving the function of a late mini-feed or early timeline. Tabs made it easy to navigate to info and photos. This version of the profile page gave users three ... more

This version of the profile is cleaner than the previous... Photo-5820360.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2010 profile

A summary of the user's information appeared at the top of this profile page. Recent photos were below. (Some of my more creative friends used those five photos to create one larger photo.) Tabs disappeared.

A summary of the user's information appeared at the top of this profile page. Recent photos were below. (Some of my more creative friends used those five photos to create one larger photo.) Tabs ... more

Photo: Facebook

A summary of the user's information appeared at the top of... Photo-5820785.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2010 news feed

The news feed's left rail got longer and more icon-dominated, looking even more like it does today. Facebook chat took on a new look. Facebook opened its first custom-built data center in January 2010 and reached 500 million users in June.

"The Social Network," starring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, was released in 2010. The film received positive reviews and eight Oscar nominations, but was criticized by some for its dramatization of Facebook's early days. It depicted the contemptuous relationship Zuckerberg had with the Winklevoss twins, who have taken credit for the website's idea.

The news feed's left rail got longer and more icon-dominated, looking even more like it does today. Facebook chat took on a new look. Facebook opened its first custom-built data center in January 2010 and ... more

Photo: Facebook

The news feed's left rail got longer and more icon-dominated,... Photo-5820520.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2011 profile

Facebook introduced the timeline. The new profile page featured a cover photo. A quick summary of personal information rose to the top.

The news feed continued to evolve toward its current version, but... Photo-5820519.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2012 news feed

This is not quite the news feed of today, but you'd be forgiven for confusing the two. Birthday and life events popped out more with profile pictures. 2012 was a big year for the company, which went public the same week Zuckerberg got married. Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 and reached 1 billion users in October.

This is not quite the news feed of today, but you'd be forgiven for confusing the two. Birthday and life events popped out more with profile pictures. 2012 was a big year for the company, which went public the ... more

Photo: Facebook

This is not quite the news feed of today, but you'd be... Photo-5820517.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2012 profile

This version of the profile page has the same top as the previous year's. Below that, status updates were on the left, a summary of activity on the right.

The new profile page is almost exactly like today's. One... Photo-5820356.79064 - GreenwichTime

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2013-2014 news feed

This is the news feed of tomorrow -- or some other point in the future. Parts of it look similar to today's with birthdays, events, and trending appearing in the right rail. The left rail combines icons and Facebook chat for the first time since 2011. The style of the center stream looks different, with larger photos.

This is the news feed of tomorrow -- or some other point in the future. Parts of it look similar to today's with birthdays, events, and trending appearing in the right rail. The left rail combines icons and ... more

Photo: Facebook

This is the news feed of tomorrow -- or some other point in the... Photo-5820516.79064 - GreenwichTime